Allotments 4 All

I'd like to preserve my lovely beet by bottling (only have a tiny freezer). Is there a way to preserve them without vinegar - or in a sweet and mild vinegar? I don't like them preserved in neat vinegar, find it too sharp. Hope someone can help, I've never tried preserving beetroot, step by step instructions please ::)

Hi SS

Not exactly what you asked for but last year I just got a bucket with a lid put beetroot in covered with sand new layer etc. 2 buckets kept well up to Xmas when w ran out.

Threw away 2 from about 60 beet.

Heard it can be done with soil instead of sand which I will try this year as It will probably be easier to remove

Glow

PS did this instead of vinegar as I don't like/allergic to vinegar

I might yet follow your advice there glow, but I have this dream of reaching into the storecupboard and pulling out a jar of yummy beetroot something :'( ::) :P

small beets can be frozen or maybe try a red wine vinegar, or a fruit vinegar or any flavoured vinegar to take the 'edge' off - if you like balsamic that could be mixed with another vinegar  :)

oo that's starting to sound better - do you just pour cold vinegar over cold cooked beetroot?

yes, just cook, rub skins off gently, pack into jars and cover with cold flavoured or mixed vinegar, although apparently it keeps longer if you slice and pour over boiled and still hot vinegar so that might help decide which to use - one book I have says cold will keep up to 2/12

thank you calendula, does it matter if the beet are hot or not? <stoopid smiley>

I make an apple and beetroot chutney , its quite sweet and scrummy yummy, I'm not sure if this is any good to you so thought I'd ask before typing out the recipe  :)

Just let me know if you would like the recipe :)

oh yes please dixie, I can believe that beet would go well with apple :)

Quote from: supersprout on September 05, 2006, 16:17:08
thank you calendula, does it matter if the beet are hot or not? <stoopid smiley>

yes, best to cool down so the temperature differentials are closer - apologies you did ask for step by step instructions  :(

and if you like the combo of beetroot and apple try them both mixed in with mashed potato - amazingly wild colour but fab

Thank you calendula :-*

May not be up your street but, once again, my American g/m's pickle -

Cover cooked beet with 1 cup cider vinegar boiled with 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Nicest with orange beet.

That's exactly the sort of thing tim, thank you too :-*

ooh yes the sugar addition would be really nice - you might want to try raspberry vinegar - I usually make my own just by popping a few raspberries into a cider or white wine vinegar or if you feel flushed use a white balsamic - mmm must be nearly supper time, makes your mouth water  ;D

Beetroot and Apple Chutney

12oz finely chopped onions
21b cooked beetroot, peeled and diced
12oz cooking apples, diced (weight when peeled)
3/4 pint white vinegar
1tsp pickling spices
12oz sugar
1tsp salt

Put onions, beetroot and apples into a pan with vinegar, tie pickling spices in a  muslim bag and add to the pan.  Simmer til the apples are soft and then add sugar. Stir and boil staedily until the chutney reaches desired consistency.  Add salt and remove spices and spoon into jars.

the apple and beetroot mash sounds wonderful :D

mmmmmmmm!

I also don't like the too-sharp vinegar of pickled beetroot, and this year has been a bumper crop. I grew cylindra, and they're about 6" long...

As an addition to the storage query, I always find that carrots and beets go soft and rubbery within 2-3 days of being picked. Yet shop-bought ones don't.

Why? I can only think that it's water levels (home-grown tastes better cos it's not forced to grow fast with loads of water) but in that case does damp sand stop them depleting?

moonbells

lovely chutney rx - I'm soon to start harvesting my apples so will be making this

beetroot should keep quite well in damp sand but you have to keep the dampness just right - store cool and frost free - vermiculite can be used as well

love this thread.... was down at the lottie yesterday, looking at my bumper crop of beetroot, thinking to myself "why did i grow this? i have no idea what to do with it".......

well now I do.... thank you all. ;D ;D ;D

Tabby x

thank you dixie, looks really scrummy - and simple! :P :D
will give that a go at the weekend, got to wait for my lottie neighbour to turn up so I can get permission to scrump his apples ;)

MB I grow both forono and cylindra - they seem to stay tender and sweet even when they get to sausage size don't they? ;D

Try half vinegar and half water with a teaspoon of sugar per 1 lb jar.  Ours were fine right up until the  last jar  in April.  Even our little grandkids love them
My mother used to make a raspberry jelly with half vinegar half water and  put chopped beet in - delicious.
SodB